I'm officially retired!

Well, at least from UT.

Now I only work for me.
www.sensibleparenting.com
and
www.unicornphotographics.com

Hope we can make them work so I don't have to really look for another job.

For now, I should go to bed. Big day getting ready for a parenting class starting tonight! April 1st.
Still a couple of spots left if you are interested.

Sweet dreams!
Blessings,
Lori

Interesting day again

Our focus group in between my two job clubs today was really interesting. We did some fun and enlightening exercises.

I've been busy emailing and calling this evening to get a couple more people in the parenting class we have starting on Thursday. There is still space for a couple more if you are interested, or know someone who might be.

I'm about to go to bed. Long day, and I have a breakfast meeting tomorrow, then job club, then lunch with a friend, then maybe the chiro if I can get in, then down to Mom's to sit with her and do her nails while Tammy teaches a class.

When I get home, I have to get ready for an afternoon meeting on Wednesday with one of the daycares I took fliers to last week.

Busy, busy, busy! One of these days, it WILL pay off!

Blessings,
Lori

Completely missed a day....

Yesterday was a blur with getting ready for the Easter Pfest.... actually going to it... then preparing for our workshop in the evening.... and giving it.... I was exhausted by the time I got home, but still had some things to do. By the time I went to bed about 1:45 this morning, I had completely forgotten to blog. I did think about it as I drifted off to sleep.
Didn't have time before church this morning.
I've been looking for ways to add another couple or two to our parenting class this week.
If you know of anyone who may be interested, please tell them to call me.
251-5421 or my cell, 422-7916

Well, another busy day tomorrow with two job clubs, and some errands... so, better get to bed.

Blessings,
Lori

Friday was a crazy day!

I started out EARLY for a 7:30 coffee meeting with the Chamber of Commerce.
That was a great adventure. The last time I went to one of their meetings, it was really small. There were a LOT of people there. We will probably end up joining as soon as we have a little cashflow to do it. We could be taking photos of the City Council. We spoke with the Mayer Pro Tem and he wants a new photo for the web page. He is going to suggest it to the others since some of them just have snapshots. He would like for the page to look more professional. I'll be getting back to him next week about all that.

I was planning to go to two other networking meetings, but was already late for the 2nd one so decided to do a couple of other things to get ready for later. Went to the third one and it had been moved to Tuesday morning. I got my messages mixed up or missed one. Not sure how that actually happened. Anyway, we will probably go to the Tuesday one.

The rest of the day I got busy stuffing plastic eggs with a business card that has the two workshops on it, a parenting tip, and chocolate! We are going to the Easter Pfest today from noon to 2:00 to pass out eggs to the adults. This afternoon at 5:30, we are giving a parenting skills workshop at the Rec Center. This one is free, but we hope to get the word out to some folks that we are around, and maybe enroll a couple of people in our class that begins on April 1st. We would like to have a couple more couples in it. So, if you know of anyone who might want to take it, give them our number, or send them to our website. http://www.sensibleparenting.com/

Today is another busy day, so I'd better have some breakfast and get to it!

Blessings,
Lori

Interesting day!

I went out today to take fliers to several daycares in the area.
Got a particularly warm response at a couple of them.
The last one I went to called just after I got home (about 15 minutes after I stopped by) to talk about setting up a class at their location. Gotta love that! Details to work out yet. I'll be going by to chat with her some more about it tomorrow afternoon - I mean today.

I'm going to some different job club/networking events Friday this week. There are three I want to check out, so I have to miss LPJC to do that.

Well, the three hours I slept last night plus the hour nap today is not enough sleep for me, and I have to get up at 6:00 to get to my early networking event, so off to bed!

Blessings,
Lori

Up all night....

I was up all night working on some fliers and stuff I need for a parenting workshop we have on Saturday, a parenting class we have starting on April 1st (we need a couple more couples in it), and an anger management workshop we have on April 10th.

When I finally crawled into bed at 6:05 this morning, I remembered I hadn't blogged.... just as my head hit the pillow. Wasn't about to come back in here to do it! Sorry folks.

I'm up now to go take fliers around to some daycares and churches. A nap is in order later before a networking meeting tonight.
Busy, busy, busy! Now if only it would PAY!

Blessings,
Lori

long day....

Only one job club today. Found about about another one to go to Wed. morning.
Guess I'd better get to bed if I expect to get up for it!

Blessings,
Lori

Two job clubs today....

The first one was really interesting. We had a speaker, but then started a 4 week class the second hour. E went with me. It's going to be interesting. We have homework!

I've been putting workshops and classes on Craigslist this evening, per suggestion of someone in one of the job clubs today, and a couple of times before. I just hadn't done it until today. We need at least two more couples in the class that starts next week, April 1st. If you or anyone you know wants to take the 5 week parenting course, please let me know soon!
Check the website for more info.
www.sensibleparenting.com
Click on Schedule.

Time to sleep. Another job club tomorrow morning.

Blessings,
Lori

Not a big job search day....

Went to church, had a small party with some friends from church.
Back to the "job" stuff tomorrow.

Time to hit the pillow now!

Blessings,
Lori

Winter and Spring got mixed up!

Yesterday was really nice. Today was COLD and windy!
The highest I saw was 43. It's 39 now.
I'm about to crawl into bed under my feather poufy!

I've been cleaning all day and getting ready for the 50+ Club party tomorrow late afternoon. I'm tired. Church in the a.m.

Catch up with ya'll later!

Blessings,
Lori

it's tomorrow again....

Another busy day and late night. Seems so long ago that I went to Job Club (Friday morning).

I've been busy since I got home. Working on parenting class stuff and getting the house ready for the party Sunday evening.

E is off at the church men's retreat. He needed to get out of the house and do something different. Hope he is enjoying it. I love to go to the church retreats there. It's so peaceful out in the country.

My phone has been plugged into the computer all day. Says it's STILL syncing. I think it's hung up somehow. It's not saying it's adding contacts anymore. Those little arrows have been chasing each other around in a circle all day! Surely it's done by now!

Well, I'm going to bed. I think if it's still spinning when I get up, I'm going to unplug it anyway.... unless E replies to the email I sent and tells me not to....

Time to hit the pillow before my eyes close.
Blessings,
Lori

Lost track of time again!!!

I can't believe it's tomorrow already!
I've got to quit staying up so late.
I did get a lot done today tho. Much still waiting to be done when I get home from Job Club.
Busy weekend for me at home while E goes to the men's retreat. He needs some time away from the computer... Oh, wait, he's taking his laptop with him to show a movie....
And, I need some "me" time alone. Of course, I have so much to do that it won't be my normal "me" time alone. Oh, well, it will be quiet, except for the roar of the vacuum cleaner.

Off to Nappy's house for a bit before the alarm goes off!

Blessings,
Lori

a pretty good day....

We had the meeting at the Rec Center. Not exactly what we wanted, but it will certainly help get the word out. We are going to do one free workshop on the 27th, then a paid one on April 10th. They should both be on the website in the next few days. I'm going to take fliers around to some places early next week. I hope to find some time to make the flier this weekend. It's going to be a busy one!

I can't believe I'm still up, and that there are still piles of stuff I'm working on next to me on the floor. Ran out of desk space. I think I'll give it up for now and hit the pillow!

Blessings,
Lori

what day is it?

I've been confused all day. Different times of the day I thought it was different days of the week. No, I didn't take a nap and think it was a different day.

Went to a job club this morning (in the rain), then rushed home to get E to go to a marketing meeting. Very interesting. Learned some new things. Now, to put them into practice!

Tomorrow I have a meeting about setting up some parenting classes. Pray it goes well!

About to load some pics from the 3 hour walk Sunday onto my computer to see how they turned out.
Then I think I'll go to bed.

Blessings,
Lori

taxes.....

We have got to come up with a better system this year! I'm about to scream!
I've been after E to get to this for at least 3 or 4 weeks. He decides to do them the busiest week with only a couple days to do them. This is not working for me!

I have to get up and go to two meetings tomorrow and he wants to work on them NOW!
Nope. I'm going to bed. Hope I'm not too wound up to sleep!

Today was good tho. I met another neat woman this morning. Could be a good contact for photography business. Photographing horses. I love horses. I think they are amazing animals. I like to ride them, but they like to run away with me. They know I don't know what I'm doing and really take me for a ride. Maybe somewhere in this I'll learn a bit about riding too.

This afternoon was another good meeting. Some very interesting stuff. I've done that kind of thing before, but it was interesting to write a bunch of stuff down that I was thinking back on Nov. 30th and in the days that followed. It's also good to be past a lot of that! I'm in a pretty good place now in a lot of ways. Some not so good, but working through those.

Well, off to bed.

Blessings,
Lori

Beautiful day for a walk in the park....

As soon as we got home from church, we headed out for what I thought was going to be about a 30 minute walk. We headed over by the elementary school, then across the road to the trail that goes through the park. Three hours, yes 3, later we got back home. We stopped along the way a lot to take photos.

It was not a very productive day, unless we can sell some of those photos. We needed the exercise tho. I miss the trail at the old job. I haven't been walking every day like I used to. Must get back in that habit, before I have to buy a new wardrobe!

It's going to be a busy week with meetings, and getting ready for a party next Sunday afternoon with friends from church. Our 50+ Club group wine and cheese/potluck at our house. We got on the schedule for this way back before the layoff, or we might not be doing it this month. Guess it really doesn't matter, except that the layoff postponed my doing a lot of things around the house that I planned to do during the Christmas break. And, I've been so busy with networking to build our businesses or find a job that I haven't gotten those things done yet. Yesterday was the most productive day of housecleaning in a long time. I will be ready, but busy week ahead. E is going to the men's retreat Friday afternoon for the weekend, so I'll have some uninterrupted time to clean on Friday and Saturday. He'll be back in time to help a bit before the party on Sunday afternoon.

I have to get up early in the morning for a mandatory meeting for unemployment, so guess I'd better hit the pillow!

Blessings,
Lori

A nice surprise!!!

Daughter called today, just after noon to ask if we were free for dinner this evening!
Of course!!! She and grandson, and two of their friends came to town just for dinner with us! They were 2/3 of the way here from Houston, so came to see us. Wish they could have stayed a bit longer, but it was already dark after dinner when they headed back to Houston.
They should be home by now.
I took 61 pictures at dinner! Naturally!

Busy day of organizing our home office and straightening up some other stuff. I can find some things now! Yay!
Finally, must do taxes tomorrow after church, first thing!
Then a bit more cleaning.
Would like to go to Zilker to the kite festival, but don't see it happening.....

Off to bed as soon as the rest of the dinner photos load so I can send them.

Blessings,
Lori

Did it again.....

Stayed up way too late!

Interesting day. Two good networking meetings. Met some neat people.

Going to bed now so I can get up for job club!

Blessings,
Lori

I can't believe I'm still awake!

I thought I wouldn't stay up too late after I got home from church..... but here it is tomorrow already, and I'm still awake!
It's been a busy evening.

I've decided to go to a "new" (to me) job club/networking group at lunchtime. Might meet some new people who want photos or parenting classes, or have some suggestions. You just never know. Anyway, I had to find something to do for missing the Tuesday meeting. There were only two listings for tomorrow that I wanted to check out. The other one is the far side of town, so I'm going closer first.

Maybe I'll find another new one to go to next week. Broaden my horizons, and my contacts.

OK, I'm really going to bed now.
Blessings,
Lori

Missed last night... with good reason

Yesterday was a very strange day. I don't know where it went!
I didn't go to the job fair yesterday morning after all. When I looked at it, it appeared to be mostly for forklift operators. I don't think so! Way too noisy for me! Not to mention, I don't have a clue how to operate one. :)

I went to Mom's in the afternoon - it took me over an hour.... I don't like traffic at 4:00 - and got home way late last night. We went to Sonic for half price burgers, then at home (hers) I did her nails, and we watched a movie. I left there about 10:15. By the time I got home, I was too tired to even log on.

Today I have to fill out some insurance papers, and some other stuff to send to different places. Soup supper tonight at church.

For now, a bit of catching up.

Blessings,
Lori

Enough fun for today....

Went to two job club meetings today, finally put the rest of the Christmas stuff that was piled in the garage away in the attic, paid a few bills. Now ready to hit the pillow.
Another job club meeting in the morning. A new one I haven't been to before. Hope to meet some new people and make some good contacts.
Say a prayer!

Blessings,
Lori

Another old friend....

Saw another old friend today, two actually, that I hadn't seen in a long time.
Surprised to see one of them in a uniform. We had a nice long chat. Very encouraging.
Then, as if an answer to a prayer we had just been talking about, another opportunity for a place to teach parenting classes. Sounds like it might be a really great opportunity. Planning to meet to discuss it next week.
Say a prayer!

It was a bit chilly for a day at the Lake, but really glad I went. Will look at the photos tomorrow. Too tired now....

I'm about to hit the pillow. Very tired, and church and a play tomorrow!
Yay!

Sweet dreams!

Blessings,
Lori

Another late night....

Job Club this morning. Saw some friends there.

Had a great time tonight at stamp group. Made some cool cards and scrapbook pages. Lots of fun and laughter. Wish I had more time for that than one night each month! Maybe after we get the businesses growing, my schedule will even out a little and I can add another event like that. Good to have fun!

Got the evite sent for the 50+ Wine and Cheese party this month.

Started getting things ready to send out to promote more parenting classes.
A somewhat productive day. More tomorrow.

Tired now. Sleep.

Blessings,
Lori

Really a night owl....

Yes, I really am a night owl!
I went to a RISE event this evening and am still on the computer since I got home. I'm not even tired, but should go to bed so I can go to LPJC in the morning!
I only took a 30 minute nap this afternoon. Love those naps! Used to take one almost every day on my lunch hour. That must be why I still need them now.

Had a great lunch today at the Doubletree. Yummy triple chocolate cheesecake! Met some really nice people. The Blood Center Award Luncheon. I coordinated the blood drives at work for several years. Passed it on to a dear friend who is still working there. She'll do a great job of coordinating them. I may still have to go there to donate, unless we start doing more than 2 a year at church. If they are scheduled at the right intervals, I can do two at each place. Either way, benefits a lot of people. Saves lives. If you don't donate already, please check into it. It's easy and not painful. Only takes a short time. If you or someone you know has ever needed blood, you know how important it is!

OK, off to Nappy's house so I can get up soon!

Blessings,
Lori

Interesting website class today....

I had originally planned to get out and pass out fliers today, but apparently wasn't supposed to do it just yet. As it turned out, on the way home from the website class we went to, E and I were talking about dropping off fliers and came up with another idea. If I had dropped some off earlier, I might have missed the opportunity we talked about. Everything happens for a reason. All part of God's plan. Wish He'd share a bit more of it with me. I know..... in HIS time!

The website class was very interesting. I picked up a few things, and E got some ideas for improving ours.

Soup supper was great! Had a nice chat with a couple of friends. Was glad to be there for someone. The meditation program before the service was great! Same one we did at the ECW retreat recently. Really a blessing. Was nice to see Suzanne again.

Couple of things to do before I hit the pillow, so better get busy!

Blessings,
Lori

A little late....

Busy day.... ran a few errands this morning. Made the first deposit of my unemployment benefits. Will figure out what to pay tomorrow. Too tired to focus on that tonight.

Got the bread for the Wednesday evening Lenten soup supper.

I'm ready to go to a website class/meeting Wednesday afternoon. Yep, that's today. Glad it's not in the morning! I wish I had noticed one of the RISE sessions sooner. I would have gone. It's at 8 am downtown. Not something I'm inspired to do at this point. I would have to leave WAY early to beat the rush hour traffic! The longer I'm not working, the less I want to tackle that traffic.

Got a new flier ready to take around the rest of the week to promote parenting classes.
Need to work on a "phone script" or two for different folks to call. That's a project for the afternoon, after the website thing.

Well, off to Nappy's house. It's been a long one.

Blessings,
Lori

Well, I did it....

I went to TRS today to turn in my retirement papers.
I'm hoping and praying that it's the right thing to do at this point. It seems to be. Everything seems to be leading us to teaching more parenting classes. It would be nice to fill the one we have scheduled this month! That would be encouraging, ....and help pay the bills.

I met another person today who can, and will hopefully, help promote the classes to a couple of groups she belongs to.

I plan to either send a bunch of initial emails tomorrow, or go hand out some fliers and meet some people at different childcare places in the area.
It's an adventure to get people to see that parenting is the most challenging and most rewarding JOB they will ever have and yet they don't feel the need for training to make their life easier. It amazes me that people will pay tons of money for classes in everything else.

Well, say a prayer and wish me luck!

Blessings,
Lori